Dead Sharks Distort Reality
21 Mar 20128:07 PM
The following commentary was written by Doug Olander, Editor-in-Chief of Sport Fishing magazine. The article appeared as Doug’s editorial column in SF’s April 2012 issue. Let me cut to …
Tag: Shark-Free Marina Initiative
Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation Partners Applaud FWC Decision to Protect Four Shark Species in Florida Waters
30 Nov 20118:27 PM
LOS ANGELES (November 30, 2011) —The Humane Society of the United States (the HSUS) and the Shark Free Marina Initiative (SFMI) commend the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) …
Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation Supporting New Shark-Free Marinas Initiative Florida Campaign
13 Sep 20116:53 PM
Converting Florida Marinas Critical to Health of Shark Populations The Shark-Free Marinas Initiative (SFMI) is reaching out to marinas in Florida to ask for their support in conserving the world’s shark …
GHOF and The Humane Society of the U.S. Team Up with Shark-Free Marina Initiative
21 Oct 20107:36 PM
I am pleased to announce that the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation is participating in a new campaign with The Humane Society of the United States and the Shark-Free Marina Initiative that will raise the …
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Travel Tips![](mailto:?subject=Dead Sharks Distort Reality&body=<img title="Tiger shark at Tiger Beach, Bahamas. Photo courtesy of Bill Watts." src="http://guyharvey.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/tiger.jpg" alt="" width="450" height="197" />
The following commentary was written by Doug Olander, Editor-in-Chief of <a title="SFM web site" href="http://www.sportfishingmag.com" target="_blank">Sport Fishing</a> magazine. The article appeared as Doug's editorial column in SF's April 2012 issue.
Let me cut to the chase:
1. If I never see another billfish or shark hanging dead for bragging rights and glory photos, it will be too soon.
2. I absolutely, unequivocally see nothing wrong with keeping a shark to eat — preferably a shark of modest size, taken aboard a boat to be shared among anglers and crew.
Too many anglers want to jump to the conclusion that a statement like No. 1 must come from a PC fish hugger who thinks no angler should ever keep any fish. Far from it.
But that sort of thinking seems to be the basis of comments left by an angry fisherman both on <a title="SF's Facebook Page" href="http://www.facebook.com/SportFishing" target="_blank">SF’s Facebook Page</a> and <a title="SF web site" href="http://www.sportfishingmag.com/" target="_blank">web site</a> after reading a Quick Bites news item in February on the <a title="SFMI web site" href="http://www.sharkfreemarinas.com/" target="_blank">Shark Free Marina Initiative</a>.
The reader is upset that the item cites as good news four species of sharks added to Florida’s prohibited-species list. Then he asks, “Why do you feel that the prevention of offloading a legally caught species is a good thing?”
I would ask a different question: Why does anyone need to kill sharks such as hammerheads and tigers, whether legal or not? They’re not food fish, so what’s the point of killing them?
Beyond that, even if killing a big shark for the glory of a snapshot in your smartphone is legal, does that make it right?
A <a title="Rosie O'Donnell shark story" href="http://www.eonline.com/news/rosie_odonnells_dead_hammerhead_shark/285827" target="_blank">news item about Rosie O’Donnell, shark slayer</a>, resurfaced recently, proudly posted on the website of her skipper. Based in Miami Beach, he’s made a reputation for killing sharks (and as long as he could get away with it, anything else including sailfish). Included was a photo of a dead hammerhead (killed long before it was illegal to do so), swinging from a crane as Rosie and her small children smiled for the cameras.
<a href="http://www.sharkfreemarinas.com/"><img class="aligncenter wp-image-1186" title="Shark Free Marina Initiative" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/sfmi-banner-logo.png" alt="" width="495" height="140" /></a>
I think hanging up dead sharks in a marina is wrong, but more important, I think doing so is just plain stupid. It’s a point I’ve made before and sadly, probably will have to again: Anglers and captains like Rosie’s do nothing but damage the image of our sport, and hurt you, me and all real sport fishermen. A nonfishing public, seeing dead sharks gathering flies at a dock, more easily accepts a distorted reality where sport fishermen are pigs with no respect for the resource.
And this comes at the very time more and more green groups would be happy to see all recreational fishing banned. Do we need to help their cause? If the purpose of those who agree with Rosie and her skipper is to put further restrictions on our sport, they’re doing a bang-up job.
That doesn’t mean I think no shark should ever be killed (see No. 2 above). A smaller mako or common thresher, neither of which is considered overfished, can be shared by anglers and crew for meals (with no need to leave ’em hanging dead at the dock). A blacktip can offer inshore anglers some fair filets. I’ve even sampled the common bonnethead and found it pretty tasty.
And yes, even across the board, the recreational take of sharks has to be a small fraction of those killed commercially. But the public seldom sees that carnage, versus one shark left to hang at the sport docks. No wonder many of the powerful environmental groups clamoring to close off the ocean no longer try to make any distinction between commercial and sport fishing.
It’s because of skippers like Rosie’s that I join <a title="Guy Harvey Inc. web site" href="http://www.guyharvey.com" target="_blank">Guy Harvey</a> in supporting the Shark Free Marinas Initiative — to avoid just such repulsive photo-op scenes.
The fact that the <a title="Humane Society web site" href="http://www.humanesociety.org/" target="_blank">Humane Society</a> and <a title="Pew web site" href="http://www.pewenvironment.org/" target="_blank">Pew</a> support the initiative doesn’t automatically make it bad for recreational fishing. That said, I’ve come to the point where it makes me uncomfortable to be on the same side of any issue with Pew.
But in this case, the mind-set and actions of Rosie and her captain just don’t leave me much choice.
https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/dead-sharks-distort-reality/){kind=link}
![](mailto:?subject=Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation Supporting New Shark-Free Marinas Initiative Florida Campaign&body=<a href="http://www.sharkfreemarinas.com/florida/submission/submission/"><img class="aligncenter" title="SFMI 2011 Florida Campaign" src="http://guyharvey.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/florida-campaign.png" alt="" width="285" height="100" /></a>
Converting Florida Marinas Critical to Health of Shark Populations
The <a title="SFMI web site" href="http://www.sharkfreemarinas.com/" target="_blank">Shark-Free Marinas Initiative</a> (SFMI) is reaching out to marinas in Florida to ask for their support in conserving the world’s shark populations. Organized as a cooperative by the <a title="Pegasus Foundation web site" href="http://www.pegasusfoundation.org/" target="_blank">Pegasus Foundation</a>, the <a title="GHOF web site" href="http://www.guyharveyoceanfoundation.org" target="_blank">Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation</a> and <a title="US Humane Society web site" href="http://www.humanesociety.org/" target="_blank">The Humane Society of the United States</a>, the SFMI aims to reduce shark mortality worldwide by discouraging the landing of sharks and encouraging catch-and-release of sharks in sport fishing, while rewarding forward-thinking marinas that participate in this program. Supporting organizations include <a title="MML web site" href="http://www.mote.org/" target="_blank">Mote Marine Laboratory</a>, the <a title="PEG web site" href="http://www.pewenvironment.org/" target="_blank">Pew Environment Group</a>, <a title="Fishpond USA web site" href="http://www.fishpondusa.com/" target="_blank">Fishpond USA</a> and the <a title="Fisheries Conservation Foundation" href="http://www.fisheriesconservationfoundation.org/" target="_blank">Fisheries Conservation Foundation</a>.
“Shark populations worldwide have suffered severe declines due to over-fishing,” says world renowned artist, angler and conservationist, Dr. Guy Harvey, “Marinas in Florida can now do their part to help conserve these ecologically vital animals by joining the SFMI.”
Sharks are currently being killed at an unsustainable rate. A scientific study published by Imperial College, London estimated that the fins of from 26 million up to 73 million sharks per year were being traded through the world’s fin markets as of the year 2000, mostly for shark fin soup. In addition, the U.S. government estimates that recreational fishing killed an average of more than 200,000 sharks along the U.S. Gulf and Atlantic coast each year between 2004 and 2008.
“Many sharks species have declined because of overfishing, which recreational fishing has contributed to in the U.S.,” notes Dr. Robert Hueter, senior scientist and director, Mote Marine Laboratory’s Center for Shark Research. “Sustaining these species is in the interest of recreational anglers as well as marine conservationists.”
Marinas in Florida can help reduce the number of sharks being killed by joining the SFMI and preventing dead sharks from being brought back to their docks. "There is no state more important to the success of this initiative in the United States than Florida, the sport-fishing capital of the world," says Luke Tipple, managing director of the SFMI. ""Because of the number of shark species off Florida, and the sheer number of nursery grounds and migratory routes located there, protecting Florida's sharks is critical to maintaining the health of Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico waters."
<a href="http://www.sharkfreemarinas.com/"><img title="SFMI Logo" src="http://guyharvey.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/sfmilogo.jpg" alt="" width="324" height="347" /></a>
SFMI supporter John Land Le Coq, co-founder of Fishpond USA, agrees. “Sharks are the guardians of the ocean and play an essential part in the health of the ocean. Most anglers I know are very concerned about the status of sharks. I hope every marina in Florida joins this important program. ”
According to Dr. John Grandy, senior vice president, The Humane Society of the United States, “Thousands of dollars in prizes are offered in shark tournaments that the government itself acknowledges are poorly monitored. Kill tournaments and misinformed media support the antiquated concept that the only good shark is a dead shark. This has to change.”
There are two different levels of commitment for an interested marina. It can either become a “Shark-Free Marina” that completely prohibits the landing of all sharks on its docks or a “Shark-Friendly Marina” — a facility that discourages the killing and landing of sharks and does not promote any activity that could harm sharks.
“The SFMI works in tandem with businesses and fishermen to increase the awareness of the need to protect our sharks and oceans,” says Barbara Birdsey, founder of the Pegasus Foundation. “This is a voluntary program that will prevent the needless killing of these ecologically and economically vital animals.” Each marina will also receive recognition around the world as a partner in this growing initiative.
Dr. Harvey summarizes: “I encourage recreational fishermen everywhere to join with me and SFMI to help protect sharks and our oceans. Our world needs sharks.”
Facts
The U.S. government estimates that, on average, more than 200,000 sharks were killed annually off the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf coast by sport fishermen for each year between 2004 and 2008.
In 2009, close to 2,000 shortfin mako sharks were killed in recreational and commercial fisheries in the U.S., leading the National Marine Fisheries Service to declare that shortfin mako sharks are “overfished.” Despite asking fishermen to voluntarily release these sharks unharmed, tournaments targeting makos have continued.
Today the dusky shark population in the northwestern Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico is estimated to have lost 80-85 percent of its population since the mid-1970s, according to research cited by a 2011 NMFS report. The NMFS prohibited recreational fishermen from possessing duskies starting in in 2000, but they can be difficult to identify and some sport fishermen still catch and release them.
Forward thinking anglers have already created new fishing tournaments that help conserve sharks and support marine research. For example, in 2011, the Guy Harvey Ultimate Shark Challenge, an annual Catch and Release Tournament in SW Florida awarded $10,000 in prizes for research related tagging, while the Ocean City (Md.) Shark Tournament awarded $30,000 in prizes in its Catch and Release Division.
The Shark-Free Marina Initiative is a program of The Humane Society of the United States. It is strongly supported by the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, Fishpond USA, Mote Marine Laboratory, Oceanic Defense, The Fisheries Conservation Foundation, the Cape Eleuthera Institute and the Pegasus Foundation.
https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/guy-harvey-ocean-foundation-supporting-new-shark-free-marinas-initiative-florida-campaign/){kind=link}
![](mailto:?subject=GHOF and The Humane Society of the U.S. Team Up with Shark-Free Marina Initiative&body=I am pleased to announce that the <a title="GHOF web site" href="http://www.guyharveyoceanfoundation.org" target="_blank">Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation</a> is participating in a new campaign with <a title="HSUS web site" href="http://www.humanesociety.org" target="_blank">The Humane Society of the United States</a> and the <a title="SFMI web site" href="http://www.sharkfreemarinas.com/" target="_blank">Shark-Free Marina Initiative</a> that will raise the bar in protecting shark populations in the U.S. and the Bahamas, while also generating awareness of shark conservation on a global scale.
<a href="http://www.sharkfreemarinas.com/"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-181" title="SFMI Logo" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/sfmilogo.jpg?w=280" alt="" width="196" height="210" /></a>
The <a title="Mission of the SFMI " href="http://www.sharkfreemarinas.com/about/about-us" target="_blank">goal of this campaign</a> is to significantly increase the number of resorts and marinas that are designated "shark-free", which means they actively prohibit any sharks from being landed at their docks. In support of this program, the <a title="BBGC web site" href="http://www.biggameclubbimini.com" target="_blank">Bimini Big Game Club, a Guy Harvey Outpost Resort & Marina</a>, has been officially declared a "Shark-Free Marina".
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/biminibiggameclub"><img class="size-medium wp-image-183" title="The Cleaning Station at the Bimini Big Game Club's "Shark-Free Marina"" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/cleaning-station-shark-free.jpg?w=300" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a>The Bimini Big Game Club's cleaning station proudly displays the "Shark-Free Marina" sign
To learn more about this program, read the <a title="SFMI press release" href="http://www.sharkfreemarinas.com/news/sfmi-news/602-october-campaign" target="_blank">SFMI press release</a> and then visit the <a title="SFMI web site" href="http://www.sharkfreemarinas.com/" target="_blank">SFMI web site</a> to learn how you can help sign up new "shark-free" resorts and marinas.
Cheers!
<a title="SFMI Press Release" href="http://www.sharkfreemarinas.com/news/sfmi-news/602-october-campaign" target="_blank">SFMI Press Release</a>
<a title="SFMI Advisors" href="http://www.sharkfreemarinas.com/about/board" target="_blank">List of SFMI Advisors</a>
<a title="Celebrity Endorsements" href="http://www.sharkfreemarinas.com/about/board/celebrity-endorsements" target="_blank">List of Celebrity Endorsements</a>
<a title="SFMI web site" href="http://www.sharkfreemarinas.com/" target="_blank">SFMI web site</a> https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/ghof-and-the-humane-society-of-the-u-s-team-up-with-shark-free-marina-initiative/){kind=link}
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